A monument to victims of World War I by Mikhail Shemyakin to be unveiled in the Kaliningrad region

A monument to victims of World War I by Mikhail Shemyakin to be unveiled in the Kaliningrad region

18.08.2014

Statuary created by the world-renowned Russian-American sculptor and artist Mikhail Shemyakin will be unveiled on the Technopolis GS territory alongside a memorial inauguration in the Russian town of Gusev, Kaliningrad region on August 24, 2014. Top public officials and foreign consuls are expected to attend the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

The Battle of Gumbinnen was one of the first battles on the Eastern front which resulted with a key victory for the Russian troops which took part in the vicinity of Gusev (former Gumbinnen) on August 20, 1914. The results had important strategic implications and helped influence the outcome of the entire war. This fact allows us to consider it as the symbol for the landmark role that Russia played in bringing the war to an end and sealing it as an Allied victory.

Currently, Technopolis GS is the unique innovation private Russian cluster is being developed near the town of Gusev where the GS Group international holding company remains the project promoter and general investor. High technologies currently being actively elaborated upon here are not the only direction being formed, but the social and cultural environment is shaping as well. In particular, specific attention is being paid to preserving historical heritage within the region. Thus, the holding company has initiated activities for restoring military burials sites of World War I, which are quite high within the Gusev region.

Statuary: "In memory of the forgotten war that turned the course of history" by Mikhail Shemyakin is completely devoted to the century-old events and is composed of three figures: an exhausted soldier, crucified on the "wheel of fortune", and two women, a widow and mother personifying the deep grief that lays deep upon war victims’ families. Soldiers’ photographs, military documents and maps of the countries participating in battle actions are mounted in the wreckages of closets that were broken during bombing campaigns and make up the monument socle. Historical materials were re-created using innovative coatings that protect against adverse environmental effects.

The Mikhail Shemyakin monument will be at the heart of the memorial park, which is laid out by GS Group holding company. The vast 3-hectare territory will house picturesque statuaries authored by many contemporary artists, as well as stands with historical notes on World War I. All of the art objects will be installed on shockproof surfaces made from rubber crumb, which will provide easy access for all visitors.

The author of the main sculpture will also take part in the solemn ceremony. Mikhail Shemyakin said, "GS Group representatives presented me a request to erect an international monument in memory of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. Granite socle will feature inlaid photographs, digitized under the cutting-edge technology. Such a technological solution will intrigue the public, which might not really be acquainted with the details of what happened during those tragic years. And I believe that this war turned the course of both European and Russian history."

Works by Mikhail Shemyakin traditionally attract public attention and become significant cultural objects, as well as sites to pilgrimage for tourists from around the world. Artist assists in extending the cultural heritage in New York, San Francisco, Venice, Paris, London, Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities.